GLAMOUR mare Private Steer's spring campaign is in the balance after she suffered an injury setback yesterday.

Sydney's best racehorse was accidentally kicked in a hind leg just below the stifle by a stablemate.

The leg injury is serious enough that trainer John O'Shea has already ruled out a start for the mare in next week's George Main Stakes at Warwick Farm.

Private Steer's wound required stitches and she was treated with antibiotics to ward off any possible infection.

O'Shea was understandably downcast last night and realises he faces an uphill battle to get Private Steer's Cox Plate campaign back on track.

"She got kicked by a stablemate and it's pretty serious," O'Shea said.

"We've stitched her up and treated it but she can't even walk that well at the moment. I doubt we will be able to work her for up to 10 days.

"It is not looking good."

Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy confirmed O'Shea rang stewards to inform them of the incident involving Private Steer.

"I must say it was very responsible of John O'Shea to let us know, particularly given the mare is so prominent in betting for races like the Cox Plate," Murrihy said.

"We understand the mare has been kicked and she has had to have stitches and [medication] treatment.

"This would probably mean the mare cannot run next week [George Main Stakes] and it may impact her Cox Plate preparation."

Private Steer has been challenging for favouritism in the Epsom Handicap and Cox Plate since the mare's brilliant first-up win in the Warwick Stakes last month.

Private Steer lost few admirers for those big races despite her defeat last week when third behind Falkirk in the Theo Marks Stakes.

For O'Shea, yesterday's setback is almost a case of lightning striking twice as Private Steer was forced out for the spring after being beaten in the Theo Mark Stakes last year.

After having problems with a splint in her foreleg, Private Steer appeared to be overcoming that injury when she was floored by a red blood cell infection.

It forced O'Shea to send the mare to the spelling paddock.

O'Shea is obviously hopeful the same fate won't befall Private Steer this spring.

Within minutes of news of Private Steer's setback emerged, TAB Fixed Odds took two sizeable bets on her main rivals, Starcraft and Grand Armee, for the Cox Plate.

"We had one bet of $6000 at $3.50 on Starcraft and another of $4000 at $7.50 on Grand Armee," TAB Fixed Odds spokesman Glenn Munsie said.

Starcraft immediately firmed into $3.25 Cox Plate favouritism with Private Steer out to $3.75 and Grand Armee next at $7.

Munsie decided against suspending betting on either the Epsom or Cox Plate until learning the full extent of Private Steer's problem.

Col Tidy's Horsebet was taking no chances, immediately suspending betting only on Private Steer for the Epsom Handicap.

The Daily Telegraph